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Body of ESL Girl Found

By AP/KWMU

East St. Louis, Ill. – Authorities on Thursday found the body of a 16-year old East St. Louis girl who was swept into a rain-swollen ditch four days ago.

Chermeka Davis was walking along the embankment Sunday with her boyfriend and his brother when she slipped into the water. There will be an autopsy today (Friday).

Her body was discovered when a helicopter was brought in to aid in the search that resumed Thursday. Authorities in the aircraft spotted a body in the brush at the edge of a lake.

Deputy police chief Rudy McIntosh called off the search for Shamika Davis on Monday night. Crews had hunted for the girl for 24 hours without finding her.

But McIntosh says he decided to start the search again because he was uncomfortable calling it off Monday before a body was found.

The ditch runs along the east side of Interstate 255 and empties into a nearby lake.

Police say Davis was at the ditch Sunday afternoon with her boyfriend and his brother when she slipped into the water.

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